Surgery for severe obesity

Severely obese patients are vitally endangered by their overweight. Non ope rative therapies achieve less than 10% of persistent weight reductions in t his high-risk group of patients. On condition of correct indications and ad equate preoperative information gastric bypass, vertical banded gastroplast y or implantation of the adjustable gastric band represent effective surgic al procedures enabling persistent reductions of at least 50% of overweight in 85% of patients.